Geography - Leaving Certificate Syllabus (PDF format 246KB)

1 LEAVINGCERTIFICATEGEOGRAPHY Syllabus (ORDINARY ANDHIGHERLEVELS) Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus 1 Introduction ..2 Rationale ..2 Aims ..2 Objectives ..2 Syllabus structure ..4 format ..4 Settings ..4 Geographical skills ..4 Differentiation ..5 Units of study Ordinary level ..5 Units of study Higher level ..5 The Geographical Investigation ..5 Assessment ..6 Core units ..7 Core Unit 1: Patterns and processes in the physical environment ..9 Core Unit 2: Regional Geography ..13 Core Unit 3: The Geographical Investigation and skills unit ..17 Elective Units ..21 Elective Unit 4: Patterns and processes in economic activities ..23 Elective Unit 5: Patterns and processes in the human Units ..31 Optional Unit 6: ..Global interdependence.

2 33 Optional Unit 7: ..Geoecology ..36 Optional Unit 8: ..Culture and identity ..39 Optional Unit 9: ..The atmosphere ocean environment ..42 CONTENTS Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus 2 RationaleGeography is concerned with the study of people andtheir environment. A study of Geography will helpstudents develop an understanding of their physical andhuman surroundings. It examines the changing inter-relationships between the physical and human their study of Geography , students will developgeographical skills that will help them make informedjudgements about issues at local, national, andinternational levels. Aims1. To develop a knowledge and understanding of aselection of contrasting physical and human (social,economic, and cultural) environments and of therelationships that exist between To promote an awareness of the spatial, structural,and temporal patterns of environmental phenomena,both physical and human, at a variety of scales, andto realise that these patterns can change with time.

3 3. To understand the opportunities for, and challengesof, global To promote the conservation and sustainedmanagement of the earth s resources for the welfareand happiness of its inhabitants and for To recognise, and be sensitive to other people andtheir culture, here in Ireland and To develop a variety of geographical skills which canbe applied to the world of work and to many otheraspects of To develop and promote active citizenship and toencourage informed participation, through lifelonglearning, in society at local, national, European andglobal To encourage the use of information andcommunication technologies in the teaching andlearning of To assist students to become well-informed andresponsible citizens and to enable them to progress tofurther studies or to enter the world of To provide students, through their study ofgeography, with an interesting and enjoyableexperience and imbue in them a lifelong love of theirnatural and cultural course objectives list the knowledge andunderstanding, concepts, skills and attitudes whichstudents should acquire through their study of LeavingCertificate Geography .

4 They are based on, and progressfrom, the objectives in the Junior Certificate Knowledge and understandingFrom this Syllabus , students should acquire knowledgeand develop an understanding, from a local, nationaland international perspective of basic spatial relationships physical and environmental phenomena andprocesses social, cultural, and economic phenomena andprocesses INTRODUCTION Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus the interaction and inter-relationships betweenphysical, environmental, social, cultural, andeconomic phenomena the practical aspects of these different phenomena asthey relate to the student s local environment Course concepts Students should understand the key concepts of location spatial distribution areal association inter-relationship spatial interaction density pattern region change over , while developing their ability to use and applythese concepts, should also develop their problem-solving skills, and understand processes and systemsrelevant to each concept.

5 3. SkillsStudents should have the opportunity to develop thefollowing skills, where appropriate, as they study allaspects of the Syllabus : information gathering skills-maps of various scales including Ordnance Survey maps and synoptic weather maps- figures (line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts, diagrams and pictorial models)- statistics - photographs, including aerial and satellitephotographs- pictures, including cartoons- textual sources with geographical terminology- information and communication technology sources ( computerised data and packages, TV and radio programmes, internet, audio and digital sources) GIS and satellite imagery. presentation and communication skills- present and communicate information and ideasin a variety of ways (including maps, figures,statistics, written, and oral) investigative skills-select and use a variety of modes of investigation-carry out a geographical investigation using bothprimary and secondary sources of information social skills- develop social skills ( working effectivelyalone or in groups, following instructions,teamwork and co-operation, use of verbalcommunication to find out, debate and pass oninformation)

6 Evaluation skills- synthesise, analyse, interpret and evaluateinformation ( distinguish fact from opinion,draw conclusions, prove simple hypotheses, makeinformed judgements, suggest sensible solutionsto problems and, where appropriate, suggestrealistic plans for action).4. AttitudesStudents should be encouraged to develop positiveattitudes towards themselves, others, and theirenvironment. Such attitudes include: a willingness to perceive and evaluate natural andcultural phenomena from the point of view of others an appreciation of social, cultural, andenvironmental diversity an awareness of the dangers of all types ofstereotyping and prejudice sensitivity to the aesthetic quality of the natural andcultural environment, leading to a desire to maintainand enhance this Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus 4 The Syllabus is presented in the form of core, elective,and optional areas of study.

7 The development ofgeographical skills should permeate teaching andlearning across all aspects of the Syllabus , as Syllabus for Ordinary level is presented in the formof core and elective units. For Higher level it ispresented in the form of core, elective and optionalunits. Each unit is sub-divided into statements andtopics for study. Each unit is presented in four columns: Unit number Content description National settings International settingsThe content description column contains the mainguiding statements for the unit and a detailedbreakdown of study areas under topics for all times teachers should endeavour to explaingeographical phenomena by using local examples, whereavailable and appropriate, to illustrate the topics. Inaddition, national and international examples are alsoprovided throughout the Syllabus .

8 These settings are notprescriptive and are for guidance are alsogiven the freedom to choose their own settings and casestudies to illustrate the topics for study. Teachers shouldlink, where appropriate, each of the topics for studythroughout the Syllabus to Core Unit 2 - regionalgeography - and vice versa. This will allow regionalgeography to provide appropriate settings and to becomea natural and cohesive part of the overall skillsThe learning, use, and application of geographical skillsis central to a student s experience of Leaving Certificategeography. Geographical skills are central to all parts ofthe Syllabus . The core geographical skills are listed forstudy in Core Unit 3 and are to be studied by allstudents. A list of skills is also included in theintroduction to each of the Syllabus units.

9 These listedskills should be integrated into the teaching of all thesyllabus units as appropriate. These core geographicalskills will also be used and applied in the preparation ofthe geographical investigation at both Higher andOrdinary levels. The student s competency in theapplication and use of geographical skills will beexamined in the context of the terminal writtenexamination and the geographical Geographical InvestigationThe geographical investigation is a core area of studyand as such is compulsory for all students. Field studiesand investigations using primary and secondary sourcesare central to the geographical education and experienceof all students. The investigation will allow the studentto experience the practical application of the coregeographical skills that are central to all units of thesyllabus.

10 The geographical investigation will allow thestudent to experience the key aims of the Syllabus in thecontext of their own environment. The investigation alsoencourages students to develop positive attitudes by bothexperiencing and questioning relationships and issues intheir own environment. The investigation represents thepractical application of the core geographical skills listedin the Syllabus . The students, having studied andpracticed the geographical skills listed, will then applythe appropriate skills to the investigation topic. In theprocess of completing the geographical investigationstudents will be required toSYLLABUS STRUCTURE Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus devise a strategy and identify aims, objectives, andhypotheses to allow for the effective investigation ofthe topic select methods of collection and gatheringappropriate to the investigation topic use appropriate methods of gathering and collectionof information prepare a report analyse and interpret results and draw structure of the Syllabus has a clear differentiationbetween Higher and Ordinary levels.